CTS 42

Ji Mingxuan pinched his cheek and said, “Use Chinese.”

The boy blinked, looking a little wronged, but still stammered, “D-Dad.”

Shen Mo felt as if he had been slapped in the face. Half his cheek went numb, and he realized just how ridiculous his little hopes had been. How could he have forgotten? Ji Mingxuan was never short of company.

At that moment, a well-dressed middle-aged woman came hurrying over. She looked like a nanny. Ji Mingxuan made a gesture for her to step back, then picked the boy up and placed him on his lap. Pointing at Shen Mo, he said, “Say hello to Uncle.”

The boy was very obedient. He gave Shen Mo a quick once-over, then said, “Hello, Uncle.”

His features hadn’t fully developed yet, but it was clear he had inherited the Ji family’s good looks. Dressed in a tiny suit, he looked like a proper little gentleman.

No matter how complicated Shen Mo’s feelings were, he couldn’t help but smile back at him.

“Hello there,” he reached out and gently touched the boy’s soft black hair, then asked, “What’s your name?”

“Ning.” The boy’s Chinese wasn’t very fluent, but his pronunciation was fairly accurate. “Ji Ning.”

“And how old are you this year, Xiao Ning?”

Ji Ning’s black eyes sparkled as he slowly held up three fingers, looking quite pleased with himself, as if reaching the age of three was a major accomplishment.

Shen Mo imagined that Ji Mingxuan must have been just as proud at that age. For some reason, he found himself growing fond of the child right away.

“Are you hungry, Xiao Ning? Want a snack?”

Ji Ning glanced at Ji Mingxuan and replied, “Dad doesn’t let me eat randomly.”

He wasn’t shy at all and pulled Shen Mo’s hand. “Uncle, come play with me.”

Shen Mo was just about to answer when Ji Mingxuan spoke. “Uncle’s hand is injured. He’ll play with you another day.”

As he said this, he glanced at the middle-aged woman. She immediately got the message and came over to take Ji Ning away. Ji Ning seemed quite fond of Shen Mo and leaned out as much as he could to wave. “Bye bye, Uncle.”

Shen Mo’s eyes followed the child for a moment before turning back to Ji Mingxuan. “Xiao Ning is adorable.”

“He’s a handful at home, only behaves when we’re out.”

“Are you here on vacation too, Mr. Ji?”

“For business. There’s no one to watch Ji Ning, so I had to bring him along.”

Shen Mo’s face was still slightly warm, but his heart had settled. He said, “I didn’t know you were married. Congratulations.”

Ji Mingxuan looked at him steadily for a moment, then smiled faintly and unconsciously touched his left hand with his right. Shen Mo noticed he wasn’t wearing a wedding ring, but there was a faint white mark around his ring finger, the kind left behind after wearing a ring for many years.

Shen Mo had the same kind of mark on his own finger.

Ji Mingxuan lifted his coffee cup and took a sip, then asked, “And you? Still with Zhou Yang?”

Zhou Yang?

Shen Mo had nearly forgotten who that was. He could have told a small lie. After all, Ji Mingxuan lived abroad and wasn’t going to check who he was dating. But he answered honestly, “I haven’t seen Zhou Yang in years.”

In fact, ever since what happened with Ji Anan, he had never contacted Zhou Yang again. He only occasionally heard bits and pieces, like Zhou Yang marrying into some powerful family again.

Ji Mingxuan let out a meaningful “Ah” and said, “I thought…”

He didn’t finish the sentence, but they both knew what he meant.

Shen Mo felt that Ji Mingxuan never truly understood him. After what happened to Ji Anan, how could he possibly continue being with Zhou Yang as if nothing had happened? Not to mention… Jinxiu Villa…

Shen Mo took a deep breath and said, “I already went to that house in Jinxiu Villa. Mr. Ji, I’ve started to remember some things from the past…”

Before he could finish, he was drowned out by Ji Ning’s loud shout.

The boy had started playing with a group of foreign children, chasing each other around. He ran while shouting, mixing Chinese and English, “Dad.”

Ji Mingxuan turned at the sound and gave him a small nod. He was a father now, and of course his priorities had shifted.

Shen Mo suddenly snapped out of it, realizing that things were no longer like they were back then. What was the point of bringing up old memories? Was he hoping Ji Mingxuan would introduce him to Mrs. Ji?

It was like drinking a glass of ice water in winter. Whatever warmth had been left on his face faded away completely.

Once Ji Mingxuan finished interacting with Ji Ning, he turned back and asked, “Sorry, what were you saying just now?”

“Nothing,” Shen Mo smiled and replied. “I was saying, it’s getting late. I should probably be going.”